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chapter 114
Clois, approaching quickly like a hawk hunting prey, snatched the letter from Duke Kailun’s hand with precise speed.
Then, she hurriedly returned to her seat and examined the envelope.
It had been a long time since she had seen her friend’s face, and she didn’t give even a glance to the attending retainers.
Because of this, Duke Kailun and Marquis Ragselv stood awkwardly, until the perceptive head steward spoke to them.
“Although it’s a bit early, would you like to have some tea before you go?”
“Please do.”
While the steward went out to fetch the tea, the two watched Clois.
Seeing her smiling so brightly, Marquis Ragselv rubbed his eyes for a moment.
Since the last time they had gone out together to track Siren, he hadn’t really seen Clois at all.
During the pursuit of Siren, the entire tracking party had an extremely tense atmosphere.
Clois, who normally showed no smiles, had been even colder and sharper than usual.
‘I couldn’t even speak to her.’
Because of that, both the marquis and his knights had to endure a suffocating tension the entire time.
But now, look at Clois.
She was smiling so brightly over just a single letter. It was a smile that Marquis Ragselv hadn’t seen in years.
‘What kind of child is she, to make him like this?’
He had heard news and information about Ivy Alden, but that was the extent of his interest.
‘Perhaps she became a guardian out of affection for Princess Ivbien.’
Since he felt a certain debt toward Lilian, he didn’t feel entirely happy that Clois, rather than the princess, was the one showing care.
It was a childish feeling, but somehow it seemed that this girl was taking away what rightfully belonged to the princess.
Yet, not only Clois but even the usually cold and composed Duke Kailun acted dumbfounded, which left him bewildered.
‘No need to look far. My own son is causing a commotion.’
Ruska had made a scene immediately upon returning home as the vacation started.
“More horses! Better horses! The best horses!”
Like someone obsessed with riding, he went on about horses, seeking not only the gentle and intelligent horses within the estate but also the best horses entrusted to neighboring estates.
As if that weren’t enough, he demanded they bring Elisha, who was so smart she served as a model for the other horses and had been lent to the palace stables, rolling around the house in excitement.
“Can’t you be quiet?”
“I hate you, Father!”
Though he scolded him for being noisy, Marquis Ragselv, too, was a father who cared for his son.
That was why Ruska had come so early to the palace, insisting on bringing Elisha.
Soon, the steward brought in a tea cart with a teapot and some light snacks.
“It may take some time, so please sit and relax.”
Even the steward’s face was full of smiles.
Duke Kailun took his teacup in a relaxed posture and asked the marquis,
“How is your household? Are your sons still obsessed with muscles?”
“What’s wrong with my children? Ruska ranked 35th at the Academy for Gifted Children! How can anyone call him a musclehead? Our youngest son has small hands and feet, but luckily he’s smart.”
The day Ruska returned with his report card and proudly shrugged his shoulders, the marquis had celebrated a genius appearing in their house by giving Ruska all the chicken legs at dinner.
“And your wife? Is she still the same?”
“My wife? She’s fine. She went on a two-month border inspection, moving ten military horses in the northern mountains without rest.”
The strong physique of the Ragselv family was not the marquis’s alone.
His wife was equally strong.
Sometimes, when they disagreed, it wasn’t a joke that they might settle it with their fists.
“Ah, the marquis’s wife isn’t here. I wonder if Ivy will be a little uncomfortable there… Perhaps she should stay another week at our house.”
“Nonsense. Even without my wife, the Ragselv household can host a guest.”
As the two bickered, Clois quickly opened the envelope and began reading Ivy’s letter.
[Hello, Clois! The sun is so hot today!]
After a greeting written in vigorous letters, there was a drawing of the sun sticking out its tongue…
‘That must be the sun?’
A distorted circle with spikes, but she decided it was the sun.
[I am having so much fun every day! I enjoyed Lady Irene’s mansion, and Master Arcel’s mansion was really fun too! Everyone treated me so kindly.]
Of course. There was no place that treated a child properly if they were cold to them.
[Every morning I work at Master Arcel and the Duchess’s music class. Don’t be surprised. I earn a full 1 gold per day for working!]
Having read this far, Clois asked the duke,
“Has your household fallen on hard times? Why make the child work? And 1 gold… you could be a little more generous.”
At the sudden rebuke, Duke Kailun looked at Clois, dumbfounded.
“Hah, do you know how excited Ivy is to earn that money? Today she promised to buy me lemon candy. My wife keeps the strawberry flavor she received in a glass jar, untouched. Arcel seems to enjoy it… and even the staff carry around candy she gave them…”
Talking about it, the duke felt a twinge of envy and pride and fell silent.
He thought he’d ask about the lemon candy when he returned home.
Clois continued reading the letter.
Along with the letter, there were several drawings, as if Ivy wanted to share the joys of her day.
The marquis, listening to their conversation, looked utterly bewildered, then quietly approached Clois.
“What kind of letter is this… hmm?”
Looking at the letter in Clois’s hands, the marquis’s eyes widened.
“What kind of child sends a drawing of a butcher?”
“A butcher?”
Startled, Clois looked at the drawing and explained,
“…It’s a drawing of carefully cut flowers.”
“Excuse me? Then what’s this trash drawing?”
“Isn’t it a drawing of studying in the library?”
At Clois’s reply, Marquis Ragselv was dumbfounded.
Who would see the drawings that way…?
He inadvertently spoke,
“Looks like her drawing skills are as poor as His Majesty’s.”
Strangely, despite Clois showing genius in almost every field, drawing was one area she was not good at.
Sometimes when she explained things through drawings, it was even more confusing.
“That’s true.”
Clois brushed off the marquis’s comment lightly.
But the duke, silently sipping tea while listening, set down his cup with a firm expression.
He did not have the confidence to ask Clois about Princess Ivbien right now.
‘Let’s first review what Riden has gathered and proceed. Better to handle things carefully than rush and make noise.’
With that thought, the duke’s eyes gleamed.
At that moment, a noise came from outside. An employee from the Ministry of Internal Affairs rushed in, panting, bringing urgent news.
Seeing the message, Clois’s expression hardened.
“What is it?”
Duke Kailun asked, and Clois showed him a short letter.
[Siren has entered the capital. Currently likely hiding somewhere in disguise. Be cautious during the Autumn Seasonal Festival.]
A busy week passed, and the day arrived for Ivy to leave Duke Kailun’s household.
The maids, waking early, carefully carried her luggage downstairs so as not to disturb her sleep.
“It’s a pity.”
“Yes. I wonder when she’ll come again.”
“She’ll come during winter break, right?”
“Master Arcel returns home every two weeks. Could she not come then too?”
As the maids whispered, someone raised a hand, signaling them to be quiet.
Why was that?
The other maids fell silent, scanning their surroundings. That’s when they heard a sound.
A rhythmic thudding, like hooves striking the ground…
The maids looked in astonishment at the path entering the mansion.
Through the early morning mist, a shape gradually became visible. And a moment later…
“Ivy! Arcel! I’m here!”
Ruska was riding a horse, his face full of excitement as he galloped toward them.
